Supports Coordination Services

Welcome to The Arc Alliance Supports Coordination Organization. We are here to assist you and your loved one with intellectual and developmental disabilities navigate the system, access services, and monitor those services received to ensure health and safety for your loved one in the Intellectual Disability system. We have gathered information and resources on our site to assist you in the process. If you ever need assistance or simply have a question please feel free to contact us at any time.

A Supports Coordinator is a case manager that links the individual with a disability to services and supports.   This can include Medicaid funded waiver services, community resources, and natural supports that enable you to grow and live in your community.  The main role of a Supports Coordinator is to locate, coordinate, and monitor services along with ensure health and safety for individuals in the Intellectual Disability system.  The Supports Coordinator assists the individual in finding service providers, ensuring that the services they receive are appropriate, and assisting the individual in applying for funding to pay for services.

The focus of The Arc Alliance Supports Coordination is you, we look to provide both paid and natural support and services enabling you to grow and live in your community.

Why choose The Arc Alliance for Supports Coordination?

• We put the individual first and advocate for their wants and needs.
• We strongly believe in community inclusion.
• We take a team approach and emphasize the importance of family involvement.
• Supports Coordinators will meet at a time and location convenient for you.
• Supports Coordination staff are accessible through technology and our policy is to return all calls and e-mails within 1 business day.
• Satisfaction surveys are sent annually to individuals and families to continuously monitor and improve quality of services.
• The Arc Alliance serves individuals in 6 counties: Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, Berks, Delaware, and Philadelphia.
• The Arc is a national organization that started out as a grassroots movement and has been around since 1951.
• The Arc Alliance is a leader in the community for disability rights advocacy.
• The Arc Alliance continuously strives to be on the cutting edge regarding all facets of disability related information.  This includes attending training’s, memberships in disability organizations and communication with legislators.

In order to register for Supports Coordination services, contact your local County Office for an intake.  Eligibility in based on having an Intellectual Disability diagnosis prior to the age of 22. You always have a choice for what Supports Coordination Organization you would like to receive services from at the time of registration and at any point thereafter.

• Berks County: (610) 236-0530
• Bucks County: (215) 444-2800
• Chester County: (610) 344-6265
• Delaware County: (610) 713-2406
• Montgomery County: (610) 278-5666
• Philadelphia County: (215) 685-4677

Once you are registered for services, a Supports Coordinator will schedule a meeting with you to discuss your needs and goals.  This meeting can take place at your home or any convenient location to you.

For more information, please contact SCO@TheArcAlliance.org.  You can also contact our office at 610-265-4700.  We are happy to assist with any questions.

The Intellectual Disability (ID) Waiver is a Medicaid program that pays for needed services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Unlike school, which is entitlement-based, a waiver is completely needs-based. The waiver is the last resort for funding for services after all other avenues of support have been exhausted. People may qualify for funding for services, but they are not guaranteed since ID waivers have waiting lists. It is important to keep in contact with your Supports Coordinator so that they are aware of your needs and can best advocate for funding for services if needed.

If you are in need of waiver services, you and your Supports Coordinator will complete the following steps:

1. Meet with your Supports Coordinator and team members to determine what services are needed. There are many services available. Your Supports Coordinator will discuss these services with you, based upon your needs and interests.
2. Your Supports Coordinator creates a PUNS which stands for Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services. The purpose of this is to lay out the services needed so the county can get a clearer picture of the person’s needs and also which waiver would be appropriate.
3. Your Supports Coordinator submits additional information to the county office. Each county requires different paperwork, but usually information about medical, functional-levels, financials, and other areas of life will be collected. Also throughout this process, your Supports Coordinator will assist with locating service providers.
4. The county reviews all the paperwork submitted and determines who receives waiver. The timeline for this varies greatly, depending on need, ID/D system budget, and waiver slots available. If the county approves you for a waiver, your Supports Coordinator will let you know. Then, the services you have chosen are added to the ISP and submitted to the county for approval. Once the ISP is approved and the date to begin services starts, your waiver has officially begun!

If you currently don’t have a waiver, or are waiting for one, here are some alternative options:

• Natural Supports- This can include family members, friends, neighbors, and local agencies such as OVR (which provides employment-related services) or United Way.
• Alternative Waivers- There are other waivers available through other program offices, such as the Office of Long-Term Living. The Arc Alliance and other Supports Coordination Organizations do not deal with these waivers directly, but can provide general information about these waivers and contact information to these offices.
• You can also contact your local legislator to advocate funding for the waiting list. You can go to thearcpa.org to get information about your local legislators and helpful information about items to include in conversation.
• Even if you don’t have a Medicaid waiver, you can still receive Supports Coordination services.